I interviewed at UTSW. Very strong program which attracts perhaps a more cutthroat type, although there are always exceptions. The faculty do stand out, although I question how much you actually see of the faculty whose names are thrown around so frequently. One weakness I did notice was a lack of any appreciable outpatient medicine in the first year. Personally, I am not heading for a career in outpatient medicine, but it really is a vital component of medical training.
As for cases, like any metropolitan area, they are bound to get a wide variety. But in reality, most large metropolitan areas with a public hospital will have their share of zebras. Its hard to list this as a strength, when most true academic medicine programs in large cities, with public/county hospital affiliation, get good cases.
My impression of the residency's opinion of itself, was perhaps a bit inflated. A majority of the residents were from Texas or the south, with a fair amount of inbreeding, with a number of UTSW grads sticking around. The program does attract those interested in academic careers, which may add to its perceived strength.
Ultimately, I chose not to go to UTSW because of the extreme case load. Capping out on call nights was fairly common according to residents I talked to. Seeing patients is a good thing, but having so many that you have such little time to think...may be bad... for some. However, program choice really is dependent on your personality and the preferred personality of those you work with....be it malignant, or not.
